SEI Center Brčko: Advisory Board Meeting Held

The first Advisory Board meeting of the “Socio-Economic Inclusion” project for this year was held today at the premises of the SEI Center in Brčko. During the meeting, the implemented activities and achieved results were presented, along with plans for the upcoming period. It was also announced that the first Social Enterprise in the Brčko District of BiH could be established by the end of this year, provided that all necessary conditions are met.

“We have signed a number of important contracts, including with four non-governmental organizations that were also involved in the project last year. A contract has also been signed with the Development Guarantee Fund, securing financial support for staff and covering basic operating costs of the SEI Center – such as electricity, water, internet, phone, and other utilities,” said Branislav Tanasijević, Project Manager at CARE International BiH, addressing members of the Advisory Board.

He added that the Development Guarantee Fund, as a project partner, has also signed agreements with companies that employed interns, as well as with start-up and existing businesses that committed to including individuals from vulnerable groups in their workforce.

It was emphasized that the previous period was marked by extensive preparatory activities, but due to the wait for approval of the annual project activities from the donor – the Government of the Czech Republic and the Czech Development Agency – the implementation could not start earlier.

“Since receiving project approval, in just fifteen days, our team has been fully engaged and we have managed, in addition to implementing the planned activities, to secure donor funds in the amount of approximately €300,000,” Tanasijević pointed out. He added that this is only part of the total amount of approximately €500,000 allocated for the project in 2024.

Tanasijević announced that one of the project’s goals for 2025 is the establishment of a social enterprise that would serve multiple purposes – acting as a bridge between the non-governmental sector, which would provide employees from vulnerable categories, and the local government, which would support the enterprise through co-financing and securing its long-term sustainability.

“This would not be limited to educating vulnerable groups on human rights, environmental topics, and other issues, but would also involve their active participation in the labor market, enabling them to earn income for their families. To realize this goal, the support of the Brčko District Government is essential, through salary co-financing and periodic public calls for funding,” Tanasijević stated.

Some of the ideas for future activities of the social enterprise include opening a printing workshop, establishing a space modeled after Prague’s “café therapy” concept – where former addicts and ex-convicts, who often face challenges finding employment in the private sector, would have job opportunities – as well as a second-hand clothing store, and partnerships with local companies for product packaging, such as tea and sugar.

Members of the Advisory Board, which includes representatives of Brčko District institutions and departments, academic experts, and stakeholders from the private sector, carefully followed the presentation, praised the work done so far, and expressed their willingness to contribute to the successful realization of the project goals during this year.